Flowering quince plant named ‘NCCS4’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of flowering quince shrub plant named ‘NCCS4’ is disclosed, characterized by double-flowers with peach-colored (reddish orange) petals, and thornless stems. Plants are medium-sized, spreading, multi-stemmed and fruitless. The new variety is a Chaenomeles, typically produced as an outdoor ornamental plant.

Genus and species: Chaenomeles speciosa.

Variety denomination: ‘NCCS4’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of flowering quince, botanically known as Chaenomeles speciosa, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘NCCS4’. This new flowering quince was developed through a breeding program at North Carolina State University, Mills River, N.C. ‘NCCS4’ is an F₁ hybrid between the female parent, Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Spitfire’ (unpatented) and the male parent, Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Dragons Blood’ (unpatented). The first asexual propagation of ‘NCCS4’ was carried out in June 2003 by rooting stem cuttings at the North Carolina State University, Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station, Mills River, N.C. and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings in North Carolina over a fourteen-year period.

‘NCCS4’ roots readily from softwood cuttings treated with a basal dip of 5,000 ppm indole butyric acid (potassium salt) in water. ‘NCCS4’ has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations. Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar have not been applied for in any foreign countries. ‘NCCS4’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing date of this application. All access to plants has been directly derived from the inventor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices.

-   -   1. A medium-sized, spreading, multi-stemmed shrub.     -   2. Large, double-flowers with peach-colored (reddish orange)         petals.     -   3. Thornless stems.     -   4. Fruitless.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES

‘NCCS4’ is distinguished from the female parent, Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Spitfire’ (unpatented) in that ‘Spitfire’ has 5 petals, flowers with pistils, some thorns on stems, and produces fruit while ‘NCCS4’ has 11-13 petals, flowers without pistils, is thornless, and lacks fruit. ‘NCCS4’ is distinguished from the male parent Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Dragons Blood’ (unpatented) in that ‘Dragons Blood’ red flowers flowers while ‘NCCS4’ has peach-colored flowers. Table 1 shows the differences between ‘NCCS4’ and commercial varieties ‘Jet Trail’ (unpatented), ‘Toyo-Nishiki’ (unpatented), and ‘Orange Storm’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,950).

COMPARISON TO COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

TABLE 1 Cultivar ‘Orange Storm’ ‘Toyo- (U.S.Plant Pat. ‘Jet Trail’ Nishiki’ Trait ‘NCCS4’ No. 20,950) (unpatented) (unpatented) Flower Mostly Orange, RHS White, RHS Emerges White, color reddish 39A to N155 RHS N155; orange RHS 44D Fading to Pink, (RHS RHS 49A to 34C to RHS 51C RHS N34D) Petal 11 to 13 31 to 49 5 to 6 5 number per flower Flower 4.0 cm to 4.5 cm 5.0 cm 3.0 cm to diameter 6.0 cm to 6.5 cm to 6.0 cm 5.6 cm Pistil Lacking Lacking Present Generally Present Fruit Lacking Lacking Present Present Thorns Lacking Lacking Lacking Present

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new quince plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's form, foliage and inflorescences. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up of the, peach-colored, double flower, lacking a pistil, on a 2-year-old plant, taken on Mar. 30, 2007 in Mills River, N.C.

FIG. 2 shows a flowering shoot on a 2-year-old, container-grown plant, taken on May 6, 2016 in Grand Haven, Mich.

FIG. 3. shows a 2-year-old, container grown plant, with flower buds, taken on Apr. 30, 2016 in Grand Haven, Mich.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘NCCS4’. The detailed description was taken on 5-year-old plants growing under landscape conditions in Mills River, N.C. in April, 2017. Color references are for The R.H.S. Colour Chart, 6^(th) edition, of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 2015.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical name.—Chaenomeles speciosa.         -   Common name.—Flowering Quince. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Spitfire’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Dragons Blood’             (unpatented). -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant shape.—Rounded/spreading.         -   Height at maturity.—Approximately 1.5 meters.         -   Width at maturity.—Approximately 2.0 meters. -   Stem:     -   -   Mature stem color.—Variable, ranging from RHS N200B             (Brownish grey) to RHS 199B (Dark greyish yellowish brown).         -   Immature stem color.—At tips, young stems are RHS 144A             (Strong yellow green) but can blush in the sun to RHS 46B             (Vivid red). Immature stems transition from 144A (Strong             yellow green) into RHS 146C (Moderate yellow green) and RHS             199A (Moderate olive brown) as they age.         -   Thorns.—Thorns are absent. -   Leaves:     -   -   Type.—Deciduous.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Shape.—Predominantly elliptic and obelliptic with occasional             obovate or orbicular leaves.         -   Apex.—Rounded with some leaves exhibiting emarginate apices.         -   Base.—Attentuate.         -   Margin.—Serrulate.         -   Mature leaf size.—Length: Average is 3.14 cm (range             1.65-3.61 cm). Width: Average is 2.30 cm (range 1.44-3.87             cm).         -   Immature leaf color and texture.—Adaxial (upper) surface:             New growth emerges as a mix of RHS N34A (Moderate red) and             RHS 144A (Strong yellow green). Leaves transition to             predominantly RHS 144A (Strong yellow green) as they             continue to age, with red pigmentation persisting in some             cases at the petiole/stem junction. Abaxial (lower) surface:             New growth emerges as a combination of RHS N34A (Moderate             red) and a Mix of RHS146B/C (Moderate yellow green) and RHS             147C (Moderate yellow green). As with the adaxial side, red             pigmentation fades as leaves develop, but occasionally             persists at the petiole/stem junction. Surface: Glabrous,             both sides.         -   Mature leaf color and texture.—Adaxial (upper) surface:             Variable, ranging from RHS NN137A (Greyish Olive Green) to             RHS 137A (Moderate Olive Green). Abaxial (lower) surface:             RHS N148A-148B (Moderate yellow green). Surface: Glabrous,             both sides.         -   Stipules (fully expanded; borne in pairs).—Length: Average             is 0.41 cm (range is 0.28-0.055 cm). Width: Average is 0.42             cm (range is 0.27-0.053 cm). Adaxial (upper) surface: RHS             137A (Moderate olive green). Abaxial (lower) surface: RHS             148B (Moderate yellow green). Surface: Glabrous, both sides.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Petiole.—Shape: Laterally compressed. Length: Average is             1.00 cm (range is 0.43-1.50 cm). Width: Average is 0.12 cm             (range is 0.06-0.15 cm). Surface: Glabrous. -   Flowers:     -   -   Number of flowers per cluster.—Average is 2.7 flowers per             cluster (range is 1-4 flowers per cluster).         -   Type.—Double.         -   Habit.—Seasonal (spring).         -   Flowering season.—Early to late spring.         -   Lastingness of flower on the plant.—7-21 days.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Self-cleaning.         -   Flower.—Diameter at anthesis: Average is 4.77 cm (range is             4.03-6.03 cm). Depth: Average is 2.53 cm (range is 2.00-3.00             cm). Petal number: Average is 12.2 petals (range is 11-13             petals).         -   Petals.—Length: Average is 2.41 cm (range is 1.94-2.91 cm).             Width: Average is 2.09 cm (range is 1.85-2.56 cm). Color:             Pre-anthesis: Adaxial (upper) surface: Ranges from RHS 34C             (Strong reddish orange) to RHS N34D (Moderate reddish             orange). Some petals exhibit deeper tones at tips into RHS             N34C (Moderate red). Petals lighten to RHS 150C (Brilliant             yellow green) at petal union point. Abaxial (lower) surface:             same as adaxial surface. Surface: Glabrous. Post-anthesis:             Adaxial (upper) surface: RHS 34C (Strong reddish orange)             transitions to RHS 31D (Moderate yellowish pink) near the             petal interior, eventually lightening to RHS 155B (Greenish             white) at petal base. Abaxial (lower) surface: same as             adaxial surface. Surface: Glabrous. Petal shape: Flabellate.             Apex: Rounded. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Fused or             unfused: Unfused.         -   Peduncle.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: Average is 0.84 cm             (range is 0.57-1.27 cm). Width: Average is 0.13 cm (range is             0.12-0.14 cm). Color: A mix of RHS 144A/B (Strong yellow             green). Surface: Glabrous. -   Calyx/receptacle:     -   -   Shape and arrangement.—5-lobed and globular to globular             conical.         -   Diameter.—Average is 1.58 cm (range is 0.57-2.04 cm).         -   Depth.—Average is 1.03 cm (range is 0.13-1.47 cm).         -   Lobe length.—Average is 0.47 cm (range is 0.25-0.62 cm)         -   Lobe width.—Average is 0.75 cm (range is 0.53-0.94 cm).         -   Lobe number.—5.         -   Lobe apex.—Truncate and often reflexed.         -   Lobe base.—Fused.         -   Lobe margin.—Cilliate.         -   Lobe color.—Adaxial (upper) surface: RHS 143D (Moderate             yellow green); RHS 46B (Vivid red) around margins. Surface:             Pubescent. Abaxial (lower) surface: same as adaxial surface.             Surface: Glabrous. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen.—Quantity per flower: Average is 76.2 stamens per             flower (range is 62-95 stamens per flower). Shape: Filament.             Color at anthesis: RHS 150D (Yellow-green). Attachment:             Dorsifixed. Length: Average is 0.92 cm (range is 0.49-1.22             cm). Width: Average is 0.05 cm (range is 0.04-0.07 cm).         -   Anther.—Shape: Ovoid. Color: RHS 5C (Greenish yellow) prior             to dehiscing; dries to a range of RHS 165A (Moderate brown)             to RHS 165B (Brownish orange). Length: Average is 0.10 cm             (range is 0.09-0.12 cm). Width: Average is 0.07 cm (range is             0.06-0.09 cm). Pollen color: RHS 16B (Light orange yellow).             Pollen amount: Moderate.         -   Pistil.—Absent.         -   Ovary.—Absent. -   Fruit/seed: None observed. -   Disease and insect resistance: No significant disease or insect     pests have been observed. 

What is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of quince plant as shown and described herein. 